Vayu is a Sanskrit name that means "wind" or "air" and belongs to the Vedic god of the wind, who in the Mahabharata is also the father of the hero Bhima and of Hanuman. It is a short, modern-sounding choice among Indian American families. Vayu appeared in the US rankings only recently, climbing from number 7100 in 2018 to a peak of number 2127 in 2023 and standing at number 2141 in 2025.